Zilpha’s Obituary Feisty in nature, and never hesitant to speak her mind or bestow her opinion, Zilpha immensely loved, supported, and looked out for her family. A daughter, sister, military wife, mother, grandmother, and a great grandmother, this is the story of Zilpha Walletta Hartsfield Garrett’s life. Zilpha was born in Thackerville, Oklahoma on May 24, 1922 to Connie Aline and Ora David Heartsfield.
Family lore is that Zilpha’s mother named her after an Indian Princess. Her grandchildren called her “Grandma Dere,” a name she was affectionately given by her eldest grandson Chip. After eventually divorcing Heartsfield, Connie and two year old Zilpha moved back home to El Centro, California to be with family.
In El Centro, Zilpha’s mother married Lloyd Woodring, the person Zilpha called “Dad” for the rest of her life. When Zilpha was 5, the family moved to San Diego, where Zilpha lived the majority of her life. In San Diego, the family continued to grow with the addition of Zilpha’s little sister, Ruth Woodring Moreland (1928-2018), and her little brother, Lloyd Wilson Woodring, Jr. (1931-1997).
Zilpha graduated in the class of 1940 from Hoover High School at age 18. She continued her education taking office management courses, at what is now, San Diego Community College. Zilpha unfortunately needed to cut short her schooling as a result of World War II and family obligations.
She worked for New York Life Insurance Company, and later North Park Reality before starting her career at Paradise Valley Hospital in 1954. In 1962, she paused her time at the Hospital for three years when the family moved to Hawaii. She worked for the Hawaiian Mission of Seventh-day Adventist and then Castle Memorial Hospital in Kailua, Hawaii.
In 1964, she returned to Paradise Valley Hospital and retired in 1987 as Assistant Personnel Director. Zilpha married Foster Fowlks in 1942, and in 1945, their daughter Victoria Aline was born. Foster and Zilpha divorced in 1945 when Vicki was 9 months old.
Zilpha met James Garrett (1921-1971) while he was stationed in San Diego at MCRD, and they married in 1946. James adopted Vickie and in 1948, Zilpha and James welcomed their 2nd daughter, Lynn Ruth— and their family was complete. James and Zilpha were married for 25 years until James lost the fight to Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1971.
Zilpha’s family continued to grow with the addition of her two son-in-laws and four grandchildren. Vicki married C. Wendell Hesseltine in 1965, and Lynn married Ronald Mohling in 1970. Vicki and Wendell had Charles Wendell (Chip) in 1968, and Andrew Warren (Andy) in 1971.
Ron and Lynn also had 2 children: Amy Lynn in 1971, and Benjamin Garrett in 1977. Zilpha tragically lost her first grandson, Chip, in 1999. Zilpha is also survived by her granddaughter-in-law, Melika Hesseltine, grandson-in-law Michael Brown, and her five great-grandchildren: Claire Victoria Hesseltine (1999), Andrew Wyatt (Wyatt) Hesseltine (2008), Ethan Kane Hesseltine (2010), Jacqueline Mae (Jacqui) Brown (2003), and Braeden Michael Brown (2005).
Zilpha will be remembered for her love and dedication to her family. Her legacy lives on through the generations she has left behind. Zilpha died Thursday, February 14, 2019 comfortably in her sleep in Bonsall, California.
Her great granddaughter, Jacqui, remarked, “what a wonderful day to die, on Valentine’s Day”. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a donation to the AIDS Foundation, Helen Woodward Animal Center or the charity of your choice. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 1 pm.
El Camino Memorial Park | 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121. The gravesite is on Valor Point.
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